1956 Ford 850 Convert to 12V??

Here are my questions: (1) Is there any reason to keep it 6Volt? (2) Is there some advantage to buying a 12v kit (they're expensive)? Old Volkswagens were 6V generator systems and we use to convert them by buying the 12v parts; voltage regulator, battery, coil, bulbs, etc. and it was dirt cheap. The wiring is actually heavier gauge (for higher amperage) on a 6v system so there is no reason to change the harness and we would run the 6v starter (it would turn twice as fast which made for easy starting). I ask because someone has robbed some of the charging system off the tractor so I have to buy the parts anyhow.

I didn't check but are any of the dash gauges electric? That could be a problem.

http://www.ytmag.com/genesee/index.htm

As far as using a kit, I opted for one just to save from having to run down this and that. The kit from Genesee comes with a top notched harness, the correct (wider) pulley for the alt., Heavy duty mounts that bolt right on, and tech support that can't be beat. The harness also has a diode wired right in so you don't have to fool with some other method of keeping your charging system form back-feeding which will keep your tractor running after turning off the key.

As far as guages go, there is nothing on the 56 you have to worry about, I am thinking the kit I got came with a voltage meter, but I may be wrong on that. I prefer them over an ampmeter, but that is just me. Ampmeters need to have all the power run through them where as the voltmeter can be connect anywhere to monitor system.

If you wanna go the cheap route and make your own brackets, skip the correct pulley, and use wire you have in the shop, you can save a few bucks, but this always seems to bite me and the few bucks I saved would have been spent wisely doing it right the first time.

Dan

I have several older tractors, and have kept them all 6 volt, mainly because I wanted to stay original. I switched one back from 12 volt because of this. The starter sounded like it was going to jump out of the tractor when it turned the tractor over.

Its my opinion that the big advantage of switching to 12 volt would be the better lighting if you were going to use the tractor at night.

I have a 1958 model 851, and I don't think the gages are electric. It does have an idiot light for the generator.